Simon

I recently finished reading the book Thailand Fever by Chris Pirazzi and Vitida Vassant, which a friend recommended several years ago to help me better understand Thai culture. After reading the first chapter, I realized how little I understood about the culture, despite having traveled to Thailand many times.  The opening chapter explores the concepts of superiority and inferiority, highlighting the deep-seated role of hierarchy in Thai society. While I understand basic human behaviors, internalizing this strict social hierarchy remains difficult for me to digest. I find the idea of viewing others as superior or inferior is inherently problematic. However, Hierarchy seems to play a foundational role in shaping social interactions and daily life in Thailand. While there’s a tilt by the younger generations towards a more egalitarian future, traditional expectations remain deeply embedded in the institutions. On the edges of hierarchy lies the concept of freedom and independence. W...

Whenever I board an airplane, I am always flabbergasted by how such a massive monolith lifts off the ground to reach its destination.  Last week, while f lying from Malaysia to Thailand, I watched as passengers filed into the port, center, and starboard sections, casually placing their belongings and taking their seats. As I sat by the window, looking out at the wing and the massive turbine engine, I realized that this incredible feat of engineering has become a routine we’ve all grown accustomed to. Yet, despite having experienced it countless times, I still find it difficult to wrap my head around how such a monstrosity lifts into the air so effortlessly. Aerodynamic as a life metaphor The mechanics of flight are a beautiful display of physics. An airplane wing is curved on top and flatter on the bottom; as it moves forward and splits the air, an area of low pressure above the wing and high pressure below initiates upward movement. As the wing moves through the air at a slight a...